Traffic signal



July 12, 1932. MI ER 1,866,899

TRAFFI C S IGNAL Filed March 15. 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l awn-for PatentedJuly 12, 1932 4 UNITED STATES WILLIAM H. MINIER, F TOLEDO, OHIO TRAFFICSIGNAL Application filed March 15, 1929. Serial No. 347,400.

My invention has for its object to provide a means for indicatingprogressively the elapse of the time interval between the changes oftraflic signals, whereby individuals may know Whether to start to crossstreets or to wait for the subsequent period for crossing and thus avoidthe danger of being in the street when the traflic signals change. Theinvention is also advantageous in that it pro- 33 vides a means forindicating the length of the expired part of the intermission tooperators of automobiles approaching a crossing to enable them toregulate the speed of the automobile they are driving to avoid suddenstopping or to enable crossing within the period and thus eliminateundue speeding at the end of the crossing period. a

The invention, preferably, provides a plurality of auxiliary signallamps located intermediate the main signal lamps and a mechanism'formaintaining one of the main signal lamps lighted while the auxiliarysignal lamps are progressively operated during sub- W divisions of theintermissions allowed for the crossing of the traiiic, wherebyindication is given to the traflic of the length of the period yet toexpire during which the crossingmay be accomplished.

The invention may be contained in struc- 33 tures of different formsand, to illustrate a practical application of the invention, I haveselected one of the trafiic signals embodying the invention and amodification of one of its parts, and shall describe it hereinafter.;The

panying drawings.

Fig. 1illustrates a front view of the traflic signal referred to. Fig. 2is a view of a sectidn taken on the plane of the line 22 indicated inFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a View of a section taken on the plane of the line 3-3indicated'in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a section of aciocuit controller. 'Fig. 5 is a diagram of the connections of partsillustrated in Figs. 1, Q, 3. and 4. Fig. 6 is a diagram of theconnections of a modification of the circuit controller. Fig. 7illustrates a. face view of a contact supporting disc. Fig. 8illustrates a contact arm that coacts with the disc, shown in Fig. 7,for contratlic signal selected is shown in the accomtrolling thecircuit. Fig. 9 is a top view of the arm shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is arear view of the disc shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 11

illustrates a contact supporting plate of the modified form of electriccontroller. Fig. 12 illustrates the rear of the plate shown in Fig. 11.Fig. 13 is a view ofa section taken on the plane of the line 1313indicated in Fig. 11.

Trafiic signals, commonly used to: indicate traflic movements at streetcrossings, are enclosed, in metal casings and mounted on poles inposition so that they can be readily .observed by the public in thevicinity of the crossings. As shown in Fig. 1, the trafiic signal 1 issupported on the pole 2 by means of brackets 3. The casing in which thesignal is contained is formed of sheet metal or cast iron. In theparticular form shown, it has a cover plate 4. The cover plate isprovided with a plurality of openings in which lenses 5 and 6 arelocated. The lenses 5 are of different colors, usually the lower lens 5is a red, while the upper lens 5 is a blue or a green lens, and theintermediate lenses 6 are, preferably, similar in size and are yellow incolor. Also, a plurality of reflectors form a part of the trafiicsignaland are mounted on the cover 4. The reflectors 7 are located backof the lenses. 5 and-the reflectors 8 are located back of the lenses 6.Suitable electric lamps-are disposed intermediate the reflectors and thelenses in or.- der to provide a source of light which is colored by thelenses as it is transmitted therethrough. i The electric lamps areconnected through a cable 10 to contacts located on the disc 11. Themain signals, that is, the top and bottom signals 12 and 13, areconnected to two substantially semi-circular contacts 14 and 15'respectively, while the intermediate sig nals 16, 17. 18, 19, 20, and21, areconhected 1 each to two contacts arcuate in form, and in the formof construction shown in Fig. 7 contacts having different lengths, asmeasured in radians. Thus the signals 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21, areconnected to the pairs of cont'acts'22, 122', 23, 12s, 24, 124, 25, 125,26,

126, and 27, 127, respectively. Preferably,

- the contacts 22 to 27 and contacts 122 to 127 are arranged in twosets, one of each pair being in a set. The contacts of thesets have endslocated in a commondiameter and on opposite sides of the center of thedisc. Also, preferably, the ends of the contacts 14 and 15 are locatedsubstantially in a diameter that is inclined but slightly to thediameter in which the contacts connected to the auxiliary signalsterminate and so that the said common diameter will pass through one endpart of each of the contacts 14 and 15, the said ends being positioncdin advance of the said common diameter with reference to a clockwisemovement over the surface of the disc, whereby a connection may be made,by rotation of the disc or an element relative tothe disc, with one ofthe contacts 14 or 15 in advance of disconnection of one of the sets ofcontacts 22 to 27, upon a counter-clockwise movement of the disc or aclockwise movement of the element. v

The disc 11 is, preferably, formed to have channels in which the arcuatecontacts are located and, preferably, the channels are of such a depththat the arcuate contacts are located below the edges of the ridges 31.Thus, the ridges 31 form separating strips beneath the contacts. Thedisc 11 is formed of insulating material and the arcuate contacts areimbedded beneath the surface of the disc 11 to thoroughly insulate thecontacts from each other and prevent short circuiting by reason of thedeposition of dust or dirt on the disc.

In the form of. construction shown, the

plate 11. is fixed and a rotatable member is provided" with a pluralityof movable'contacts that register with the channels 30 and make contactwith the arcuate contacts as the member is rotated. The plate 11 issecured to a suitable bracket 35 that may be mounted on the bottom ofthe case 1 and a rotatable arm 36 is rotatably supported in a frame 37by means of the shaft 38. The shaft 38 is located at right angles to theface of the disc 11 and the center of the disc is located in the axis ofrotation of the shaft 38. The

. arm 36 is, preferably, formed of insulating material and is providedwith a plurality of channels 39 in which a plurality of spring contacts40 are located and which are so bent as to extend into the channels 30and elastically press aga-inst the arcuate contacts of the disc 11. Thearcuate contacts are, preferably, made of sufiicient thickness, and theelastic contacts 40 are made of suflicient length, such that the elasticcontacts will snap away from the ends of'the arcuate contacts as theypass away from the arcuate contacts.

The contacts 40 are connected together by means of a. conductor plate 41which is connected to a contact 42 mounted on a part of the arm 36.Preferably, the arm is provided with a circular block or disc 43 formedof insulating material and formed integral with the arm and the contact42 is mounted on the edge of the circular block 43 and thus rotates withthe arm. A spring pressed contact 44 is located in contact with therotatable contact 42 to complete the circuit with the rotatable contactas the arm is rotated and maintain a connection between the contacts 40and a source of supply of current. The contact 44 may be formed ofcarbon or other conductive material. It is spring pressed by means ofthe spring 45 located in the capsule 46 supported in a block ofinsulating material 47. Suitable connection is made by means of thebinding post 48 with a source of supply of current.

The arm 36 and the shaft 38 are rotated by means of an electric motor 50supported in the lower end of the case of the traffic signal 1 and asuitable speed reducing mechanism is located intermediate the motor 50and the shaft 38. For convenience of illustration, the shaft of themotor 50 is shown as provided with a. worm 51, that operates on the wormwheel 52 which is connected to the shaft 38 with the object of greatlyreducing the speed of rotation of the arm 36. In the operation of thetraffic signal, the motor 50 is continuously operated and the signallamps perform their signaling operation in accordance totheir-connections with the source of supply of currentas establishedthrough the arcuate contacts of the disc 11 and the spring contacts ofthe arm 36.

The connection of the arcuate contacts and of the disc 11, and thespring contacts of the arm- 36', are shown diagrammatically in Fig. 5wherein the signal lamps and the contacts are shown connected inparallel circuits. Thus, the movable spring contacts 40 on the arm 36are shown connected through the rotatable contact 42 with the main line55 and the arcuate contacts 22 to 27 are connected to the auxiliarysignal lamps 16 to 21, and the semi-circular contacts 14 and 15 areconnected with the main signal lamps 12 and 13. The signal lamps areconnected to the main line 56 so that as the arm 36 is rotated the lampswill be lighted and the signals will be produced according to the lengthof the arcuate contacts. The arcuate contacts are so located and havelengths such that the blue or green signal 12 will'be produced andmaintained during the clockwise movement of the arm 36 while thecontacts 27, 26, 25, 24, 23, and 22 are sequentially connected to thecircuit and by reason of the lengths of the arcuate contacts will bemaintained in the circuit until the contact 14 is. disconnected whichdiscontinues the green signal and after a short interval of time and,preferably, while maintaining the signaling operation of the auxiliarysignals, the contact 15 is connected in the circuit and immediatelythereafter the making sequentialcontact with the contacts 27, 26, 25,24, 23, and 22. Thus, in the continuous rotation of the arm 36, there isproduced, first the green light main signal, and the auxiliary lamps 21,20, 19, 18, 17, and 16. are progressively operated sequentially towardthe green light whereupon the red signal lamp is lighted and all of theauxiliary lamps go out. Then follows the operation of the auxiliarysignal lamps in reverse order as 16, 17,18, 19,20, and 21 towards thered light and thereupon the signal lamp 12 is operated and the auxiliarylamps go out and again there is the reversal of the sequential operationof the auxiliary signal lamps, thus by the progressive movement of thearm 36' in its rotation over the semi-circular contacts 14 and 15, thereis produced an indication of the progressive expiration of the timeinterval permitted for tratlic to cross ina given direction at acrossing and operators of machines and pedestrians are informed of thelength of the unexpired part of the period and enables them to judgewhether they still have opportunity to cross during that period.

In the modified circuit controller shown in Figs. 11, 12. and 13, thecontacts that control the auxiliary signals are made very much shorter,and are. preferably, located in a single channel. Two sets of contacts60, 61, 62, 63, 64. 65. 66, and 67 are located in the channel 68 formedn the insulating disc 69 and the associated contacts of the other setare located in the channel 68 but in the reverse order as to clockwisemovement. The arm 70, used in conjunction with the disc 69, is providedwith a pair ofcontacts 71 and 72,

similar in construction to the contacts 40 on 4 the arm 36 and adaptedto make contact with the contacts 60 to 67 sequentially and with guishedas the arm 70 is rotated by the op eration of the shaft 38. The electriccontact 72 is adapted to make contact with the contacts 14 and 15 insequence and as one or the other of the sets of contacts 60 to 67 arebeing sequential-1y operated. I

The contacts 60 to 67 and the contacts 14 and 15 cooperate with thecontacts 71 and 72 to connect the auxiliary signal lamps insequencewhile one .of the contacts14 or .15 connects one or the other of themainsignal lamps with a source of current and then to connect the other ofthe main auxiliary signal lamps through the other of the lamps 14 g and15 while the auxiliary lamps are operated sequentlally but in thereverse order through i tacts 60 to 67 are so located, with reference tothe cont-acts 14 and 15, that whilethe sig nal lamp 12 is maintainedlighted, the auxiliary signal lamps 75, connected to the con tacts 60 to67, will be sequentially lighted and extinguished progressively towardsthe green signal of the signal lamp 12 and when the auxiliary lamp 75,located in proximit'y to the green signal lamp 12, is lighted, the redsignal lamp 13 is thenopcrated to signal. As

thearm 7O continues'in its operation, the red signal .is maintained.while the a auxiliary lamps 75 are sequentially lightcd'andcxtinguishedprogressively towards the red signal 'light.- VV-hen the auxiliarysignallamp. in

proximity to the red signal lamp is lighted,;;

the green signal is then produced. The operation is then againreversedas to the auxiliarysignalsr -;j.

' In order to prevent the short circuiting between the contacts, in theform of construction shown in Fig. 7, particularly by reason of thedepositof dust thatmay be lodged between the arcuate contactsof thedisc, I

' have provided a wiper for wiping the ridges -31. Preferably, the wiperis formed of in-;

sulating material which constantly maintains the surfaces clean andprevents short circuiting between the closely disposed arcuate contacts.A plate 80 is located on the arm 36, it being secured in position by thebolts 81. that also secure the elastic contacts 40 in position. Theplate80 is provided with a plurality of elastic, fingers 82 to which aresecured blocks 83 of insulating material that are so disposed as to rubonthe ridges 31; p and thus, as the arm 36 is rotated, the ridges arekept clean.

Thus, I have provided a means whereby the public may be apprised of thelength of the unexpired period provided intermittently for the-crossingof trafiic which will operate toeliminate the dangers of crossing. whilethe signal indicatesa crossing period, caused by the expiration of theperiod while the pesignal and so on progressively to the unlighted mainsignal. \V hen the auxiliary signals are all lighted or all have beenlighted, the first main signal is extinguished while the second becomeslighted. The order of lighting the auxiliary signals may then bereversed and progressively lighted towards the other main signal.

I claim:

1. In a tratfic signal, a pair of electric main signal lamps. aplurality of auxiliary electric lamps located intern'iediate the mainsignal lamps, a source of supply of current, a means connecting thesource of supply with the main signal lamps during alternate periods andwith the auxiliary lamps in succession and ,progressively from thedisconnected mai-r'i signal lamp toy ards the connected main signallamp, and means for maintaining the connected main signal lamp connectedto the squrce of supply of current, while the auxiliary signal lamps arebeing connected to the source of supply.

main signal lamps during alternate periods, a means for connecting theauxiliary lamps with the said source of supply, the said means operatingto change-the connection of the auxiliary lamps with the source ofsupply progressively to indicate subdivision of the time periods betweenthe changes of the connection of the main signal lamps, the auxiliarylamp nearest the disconnected main signal lamp being lighted the longestof the periods in which the auxiliary lamps are lighted.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM H. MINIER.

2. In a traffic signal. a pair of electric main signal lamps, aplurality of auxiliary electric signal lamps located intermediate themain signal lamps, a source of supply of current, means for connectingthe source of supply with the main signal lamps during alternateperiods, means for connecting the auxiliary lamps with the source ofsupply in succession andprogressively during each period and from thedisconnected main signal lamp towards the connected main signal lamp.

3. In a tratlic signal. a pair of electric main signal lamps, aplurality of auxiliary electric signal lamps located intermediate themain signal lamps, a source of supply of current. means for connectingthe source of supply with the main signal lamps during alternateperiods, in'eans for connecting the auxiliary lamps with the source ofsupply in succession and progressively during each period and from thedisconnected main signal lamp towards the connected main signal lamp,means for maintaining the connection of the auxiliary lamps until all ofthe auxiliary lamps have been connected.

4. In a trafiic signal, a pair of electric main signal lamps, aplurality of auxiliary electric lamps located intermediate the mainsignal lamps, a source of supply of current, a means for connecting thesource of supply with the

